Associate Producer

Schell Games is a highly talented group of artists, programmers, producers, and game designers led by game industry veteran Jesse Schell.  We're the largest full-service education and entertainment game development company in the United States.  Since 2002, we've worked with world-class clients and partners to create interactive experiences that engage and inspire players of all ages across all platforms.  Presently, we are focused on virtual reality, augmented reality, location-based experiences, and social games.

Do you like to work on innovative projects in a motivating, friendly atmosphere? Would you agree that games can engage and inspire?

If you answered "YES!" to both questions, you might be a fit for our studio!  

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER POSITION

Our production staff works together with the project team to ensure our projects are on time and on budget. We value an iterative process, transparency among team members and clients, and embracing change in any stage of development.  Above all else, producers anticipate and clear roadblocks so team members can focus on their craft.

We are seeking an Associate Producer who will collaborate closely with project and other discipline directors on teams in order to ensure project goal alignment and facilitate communication with all project stakeholders.  While the project director is responsible for the project vision, as the producer, you are responsible for helping the team realize that vision within the constraints of reality.  

Producers serve the game, serve the team, serve the client, and build strong relationships in order to create the best possible outcome for all involved, always asking “how best can I help?”

EXPECTATIONS OF GAME LEVEL ROLES AT SCHELL GAMES:

You are building your skills within your discipline and can be relied upon by your team. You are focused on growth, and seek out experts in your craft from within the studio.

You build relationships with colleagues through openness and trust. You can be relied on in your project role. You seek feedback on how you can improve.

You are a capable and responsible team member that fulfills your project responsibilities with appropriate guidance and mentoring. You take advantage of opportunities to learn game development best practices from your colleagues and industry experts.

You recognize leaders within the studio and have identified traits you wish to emulate. 

Others look to you to help make decisions on the team. You are able to constructively work through conflict with members of your team.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• Manage and facilitate day-to-day operations of the project team, including details of communication, logistics, risk mitigation, scope, schedule, and budget
• Work with team leads to inspire a healthy, productive, and collaborative working environment for the project team
• Build a good rapport with team members
• Work with Lead Producer and Project Director (and executive team and client, if applicable) to develop project goals, scope definition, schedule, and backlog
• Champion the constraints of reality and work with the project team to ensure they can execute the project vision on time and in budget
• Advocate on behalf of the team, the client, and executive team at all times, understanding how each perspective translates to project goals and constraints
• Identify efficiencies in your own work and be able to shift your daily routines into what’s best for the needs at hand
• Depending on the scale of the assignment, support a large-scale integrated production team or take a lead on smaller, agile projects

DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: 

• Must be located in the Pittsburgh area for the role and expected to be in the office Tuesday - Thursday, with 3 extra WFH days per month
• 3+ years of production-related experience in game, software, and/or location-based experience development
• A minimum of one shipped title (or project)
• Demonstrated team leadership competencies
• Excellent organizational abilities
• Natural inclination towards critical and strategic thinking
• Strong diplomacy and conflict resolution skills
• Experience working with a team to complete something together in service of a shared goal
• Experience with iterative thinking and development (software-based preferred)
• Familiarity with team-based project management tools (JIRA experience preferred)
• Bachelor's degree or higher preferred

DEI COMMITMENT:

Our studio is committed to providing an equitable and inclusive work environment that ensures that all applicants and team members are treated with dignity and respect.  We will not tolerate any type of discrimination or harassment directed at any applicant or employee because of their sex, gender, gender identity, race, religion, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, veteran, family or parental status or any other protected group characteristic.  This equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.

Prohibiting discrimination and harassment is only one part of the equation. “Diversity makes us strong” is more than just something we say.  We value diversity in all forms because it is essential to our success, and we want every member of our team to feel their best creative self.  Our development environment and social culture are based on welcoming, respecting, and celebrating differences among our team members and our players.  We rely on each person to add their own unique skills and perspective to our culture.  Every member of our team is responsible for making the studio as inclusive and equitable as possible.

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Candidates selected for this position will be subject to standard employment verification and criminal background check upon offer of contingent employment.